German discount savings questioned
The drug discount agreements between the pharmaceutical industry and the German local health fund federation (AOK) are reported to have generated savings for the latter on its drugs bill in 2007 of 100.0 million euros ($148.8 million). However, sector observers say that these discount deals could create new problems for the pharmaceutical market. In the case of the AOK, its deal involved 42 active pharmaceutical ingredients used in products made by 11 companies.
A number of other pharmaceutical companies have complained about the deals and this year the AOK has started with 22 new discount agreements which will last for a period of two years.
Christopher Hermann, leading the negotiations for the AOK, has said that a number of further accords are under discussion and, if all of these are concluded, savings in 2008 could reach 1 .0 billion euros.
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